Types of Braces

Traditional Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces are the most common type, and are more comfortable today than ever. Made of high-grade stainless steel, they straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) for a more unique and colorful smile.

Clear (Ceramic) Braces

Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns.

While they are visually less prominent, they require more attention to oral hygiene because ceramic braces are larger and more brittle than their metal counterparts. For these reasons, ceramic braces tend to be used more on upper front teeth than on lower teeth.

Invisalign® Clear Aligners

What is Invisalign?

Clear aligners are a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable patented flexible trays that straighten your teeth like braces. Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are less of a hassle. The aligners are comfortable and contain no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment.

With the Invisalign technique, Dr. Stroop is a Preferred Invisalign provider who uses a series of almost invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners to move your teeth. Dr. Stroop completes your orthodontic treatment on the computer prior to making your aligners with the Invisalign company.

The series of aligners are custom-made by the Invisalign company for each patient according to Dr. Stroop’s specifications. He programs each aligner for you so you will achieve a great smile!

What are the advantages of Invisalign?

The aligners are clear and almost impossible to see in your mouth. This is important to many teens as well as adults. Speech is not affected while you’re wearing aligners. They are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want by simply removing your aligners. They are easy to clean. After a couple of days, most people do not notice they have them in.

How does Invisalign work?

You wear each set of aligners for about two weeks, depending on the movement that is programmed into the aligner. You remove the aligning trays only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the sequence, your teeth will move a small amount with each aligning tray until they have straightened to the final position Dr. Stroop has prescribed.

You'll visit Dr. Stroop about once every four to eight weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages nine to 15 months. The average number of aligners worn during treatment will vary from case to case.

Can children wear Invisalign?

Invisalign was originally available only to adults. However, advances in technology allow certain orthodontists to treat teenagers with Invisalign. This new technology is called Invisalign Teen.

Dr. Stroop has the advanced training and certification to provide this technique for your teenager! Teens love it, and so do we. It is amazing to see how eager teens are when offered treatment without braces.